Plato and the value of education

Plato and the Value of Education

Ancient Greek culture valued athletic and musical pursuits, in spite of the Greeks having no centralized media such as television or radio. However, cultural pursuits including the visual arts, literature, philosophy, and music were highly valuable to the Greek tradition. The birthplace of the Olympics, Greece also treasured athleticism. Greek vase paintings and sculptures display the ancient culture's fascination with athletics. While modern American society also values music and sports, music and sports have been undervalued in the public school system and increasingly, in schools of higher education. Part of the reason for the low priority of athletics and music is the economic structure of American society and the political and cultural values of the United States. Because the United States is a capitalist society, any endeavor that does not make large profits is valued less than pursuits that do reap financial rewards.

Modern schools have cut athletic and music programs in large part because they do not reflect the philosophy of education held by most Americans. The current focus remains on the "three R's," reading, writing, and arithmetic. According to this viewpoint, music and sports are considered to be luxuries and hobbies that have no real place in the public school system. Only the most talented students are believed to have what it takes to become successful musicians or athletes.

One of the reasons why American culture does not value music or athletics as much as the ancient Greeks is that the school system reflects the ideology of industrialization. Since the Industrial Revolution, the American economy has been driven by material production and consumerism. The drive toward prosperity meant that only those activities that reaped monetary reward would be considered valid. Because only a small number of musicians and athletes reap financial rewards from their efforts, these two subjects are considered to be ancillary to the purpose of schools. Americans basically believe that schools should teach children how to become productive citizens who are willing to participate in capitalist enterprise, a philosophy that Plato did not contend with in ancient Athens.

Today, millions of Americans are obese or out of shape. At the same time, Americans are obsessed with bodies, which are plastered on the cover of almost every newsstand magazine. But because schools do not promote physical education as being integral to the development of the whole human being, exercise is conveyed as a struggle. As a result, people force themselves to go to the gym knowing that the exercise will keep them fit. The pursuit of money in modern American society has made care of the body secondary.

On the other hand, care of the body was a primary concern for many ancient Greeks. The ancient Greeks were aware of both the aesthetic and salutary benefits of physical exercise and were therefore keen to cultivate the body along with the mind. In spite of evidence that a healthy body promotes a healthy mind as well as healthy body, modern Americans continue to neglect their form and physique. Many Americans are overworked and therefore can't afford to devote time for any activity that does not earn money.